Glasserton / Ninian's Cave

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Copyright Statement: Image copyright © [in the public domain]

Image Source: drawing in Maxwell (1884-1885)

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INFORMATION

FontID: 14844GLA
Church/Chapel: Ninian's Cave
Country Name: Scotland
Location: Dumfries and Galloway
Directions to Site: Located about 5 km SW of Whithorn [Whithorn is located about 25 km S of Newton Stewart down the A714, in the southern end of The Machars]
Historical Region: formerly Wigtownshire
Font Location in Church: [cf. FontNotes]
Maxwell (1884-1885) reports an object found in the excavation of Ninian's Cave, in the parish of Glasserton, supposed to have been the retreat of St. Ninian; Maxwell (ibid.) reckons it is natural "to assign to the stone basin the function either of a baptismal font or a holy water stoup", although, as he later adds, the convenience of a reservoir of pure water for domestic use would be apparent to any person inhabiting the cave." The object has, as illustrated in Maxwell's drawing, the general shape of a tire, with a small round hole in the centre, much like the Irish stones found outside religious houses and thought by some to have been related to baptism.

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone
Font Shape: round
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: round

REFERENCES

Maxwell, Herbert Eustace, "Notice of the excavation of St Ninian's cave, Parish of Glasserton, Wigtownshire", 19, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 1884-1885, pp. 82-96; r["References"]